Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "Conference Customary Laws Resolutions" [1981] AboriginalLawB 30; (1981) 1(2) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 9

• Conference Customary Laws Resolutions

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Conference Customary Laws Resolutions

At the 'Human Rights for Aboriginal People in the 1980 s' conference, the following resolutions concerning the ALRC's Customary Laws Reference were unanimously carried:

1. That the ALRC publishes a further discussion paper ...and gives adequate time before the publication of the final report for full consultation and response.

2. That the ALRC employ an Aboriginal person as a senior research officer to the Commission and that it establish an Aboriginal Advisory Committee made up equally of men and women.

3. That the Government give consideration to the appointment of an Aboriginal Commissioner to assist it in its reference on customary law.

4. That the ALRC in its further deliberations should direct itself more particularly to:

•	overseas experience in the integration of western law and indigenous custom and the establishment of courts which resolve disputes according to local custom and usages;
•	matters of personal or private law which go beyond the criminal law, such as laws relating to marriage, divorce, child custody, succession and title to property;
•	the establishment of autonomous Aboriginal courts.

5. That the ALRC directs itself specifically to the issues that confront all Aborigines irrespective of life-style including relationships with police, interrogation procedures and so on.

(Further conference resolutions will be included in the next AboriginalLB.)